(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - Thousands of Bahrainis took to the streets nationwide following the Friday Prayers to protest US meddling in their country and condemn the recent Saudi-Bahrain merger plan, saying it compromises the independence of their country.
The anti-US protests in Sitra and Sanabis came shortly after regime forces attacked anti-government protesters in several areas near the capital on Friday, injuring a number of people.
Bahraini forces fired tear gas at demonstrators in Sanabis, but there were no immediate reports on casualties.
The protesters also demanded the immediate release of prominent human rights activist Abdulhadi al-Khawaja, who has been on hunger strike for three months.
The protest rallies come as the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) is set to discuss Bahrain’s rights record in the upcoming session of its Universal Periodic Review (UPR) Working Group in Geneva.
Human rights groups and Bahraini opposition accuse the Manama government of torture and violating human rights on a massive scale since the beginning of a popular revolution in the Persian Gulf country last year.
Bahrainis have been staging demonstrations since mid-February 2011, demanding political reform and a constitutional monarchy, a demand that later changed to an outright call for the ouster of the ruling Al Khalifa family following its brutal crackdown on popular protests.
Scores of people have been killed and many others have been injured in the Saudi-backed crackdown on peaceful protesters in Bahrain.
Bahrainis hold King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa responsible for the death and arrest of protesters.
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